Roy Hodgson has selected an exciting squad for the World Cup in Brazil, stocked with young talent like Luke Shaw, Raheem Sterling and Ross Barkley but disappointing the experienced pair of Michael Carrick and Ashley Cole, who have been omitted.

It is a squad of pace and energy, qualities which will be required if England are to have any hope of escaping a group containing Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

Hodgson announced his World Cup 23 at the Vauxhall HQ in Luton, not the most obvious of starting points on the road to Rio but the home of England's sponsors. He who pays the white-shirted piper calls the tune. It was quite a change from the Café Royal beloved by Sven-Goran Eriksson for squad announcements.

The goalkeepers were as expected: Joe Hart, who has been revitalised over the past few months at Manchester City, Ben Foster, who has been one of West Brom's few shining lights, and Celtic's 25-year-old Fraser Forster, who has held off the challenge of Jack Butland in what is effectively the "development" position of third keeper. Butland travelled to Euro 2012 but has struggled to get a settled slot at a club. Norwich City's travails compromised John Ruddy's chances.

Shaw had been expected to outlast Cole in the race to be Leighton Baines' understudy at left-back. The Southampton teenager has been in magnificent form this season, raiding down the flanks and showing increasing craft in combating wingers. Such has been Shaw's form that he has been targeted by Manchester United. Such is his promise that Shaw could challenge Baines soon; the Everton full-back slightly slowed towards the end of the season and knows he has to be at full throttle to stay ahead of the Saints flier accelerating up in his wing-mirror.

If only England had such talent on the right. Glen Johnson will start for England but can get caught out defensively, as was seen with Liverpool at Crystal Palace last week. Hodgson's reserve centre-halves, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, can both cover at right-back, a fact that allows Hodgson to take only seven defenders, freeing space further forward. Gary Cahill, who has experienced another excellent season for Chelsea, will partner Phil Jagielka at the World Cup. Defence still looks England's Achilles heel.

With the likes of Theo Walcott, Andros Townsend and Jay Rodriguez injured, Hodgson's midfield and wide options really picked themselves. The main omission is Carrick, who can blame Manchester United's woeful season, and Jordan Henderson's form. Steven Gerrard will hope to get over his Liverpool disappointment quickly by anchoring England's midfield at the World Cup. Henderson should provide the energy and closing down alongside Gerrard, with Frank Lampard offering experienced cover from the bench.

Jack Wilshere had 27 minutes for Arsenal, replacing Aaron Ramsey against Norwich City, but he will need to regain his sharpness rapidly in Portugal next week if he is to challenge Henderson for a starting place in Brazil. Wilshere's club-mate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, has even more work to do. At least Hodgson knows he has the ever reliable James Milner to call up; the versatile Manchester City player can also offer cover out wide, and even right-back.

Barkley's inclusion is particularly exciting given some of his dribbles and finishes for Everton this season, especially early on against Manchester City at Goodison Park. Barkley possesses that self-belief and hunger for the big stage that could mean he is a potential star of the World Cup for England, emerging from the bench.

Out wide, Hodgson is expected to start Sterling on the right and Adam Lallana on the left. Both could be club-mates at Liverpool next season. Sterling has been a revelation this season, showing increasing maturity on and off the pitch - clearly responding to Brendan Rodgers' inspiring man-management. Sterling demonstrated his tactical intelligence by slotting smoothly into a more central role, working at the tip of the diamond, but he will be unleashed down the right in Brazil. Lallana offers a different, more studied threat, drifting in from the flank, dribbling and linking, and also a goal threat.

Hodgson has picked four strikers with his main man, Wayne Rooney, managing to go into a tournament neither injured not suspended. Rooney is expected to be used in the No 10 role by Hodgson, looking for long-range shots or passes threaded through to Daniel Sturridge. Sturridge's development has accelerated under Rodgers at Liverpool, particularly with his pass selection. Sturridge's control will trouble opposing defenders in Brazil and Hodgson has options from the bench in Danny Welbeck, who can also cover Lallana on the left, and Rickie Lambert, whose penalty-taking expertise could be useful if England escape a tricky group. Jermain Defoe's international career could be over.